Laundering machine and driving and stabilizing mechanism therefor



April 23, 1929. c. c. LAMB 1,710,095

LAUNDERING MACHINE AND DRIVING AND STABILIZING MECHANISM THEREFOR Fil ed Sept. 30, 1925 4 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. C. LAMB April' 23, 1929.

LAUNDERING MACHINE AND DRIVING AND STABILIZING IECHANISM THEREFdR 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1925 April 23, 1929. c. c. LAMB 1, 1

LAUNDERING MACHINE AND DRIVING AND STABILIZING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 50, 1925 4 Sheet S-Sheet 3 oooo o oooo@o@- oooooeooo oe a o ooooo'oooooo o0@o@- 000 oooooo-ooooomwoooo -o oooooooooqzggooooomoe oaaooooo ooo oo o o April 23, 1929. c. c. LAMB LAUNDERING MACHINE AND DRIVING AND STABILIZING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 30, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 WWW 6 I 8 6g M Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

CHARLES C. LAMB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAUNDERING MACHINE AND DRIVING AN STABILIZIN'G MECHANISM THEREFOR.

Application filed September 30, 1925. Serial No. 59,688.

This invention relates to laundering machines having driving and stabilizing mechanism adapted to operate a centrifugal extractor, and more particularly to driving and stabilizing mechanism adapted to operatively connect and actuate a centrifugal extractor and a washing device of a laundering machine, or other or similar mechanism.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and elticient laundering machine having an improved driving and stabilizing mechanism adapted to operate a centrifugal extractor, or to operativcly connect and operate a centrifugal extractor and a washing device or devices of a laundering or washing and extracting machine, and more particularly to providea simple, economical and efficient driving and stabilizing mechanism for laundering machines or similar devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sim le, economical and etiicient driving and stz ilizing mechanism adapted to rotate or operate a centrifugal extractor of a laundering machine, or similar device, and adapted to be operatively connected with and form a connection between and to coact with and operate such a centrifugal extractor and one or more washing devices of a laundering machine simultaneously at varying speeds with respect to each other, or individually independently of each other, or selectively.

. Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, details of construction and arrangement of parts as herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing.

Figure l is a view in side elevation, with parts broken away, of a laundering machine constructed in accordance with my said invention. and having a centrifugal extractor and driving and staliilizing means adapted to be operatively connected with one or more rotative washing devices or receptacles;

F ig. 2 is a detail plan. view of the base shown in Fig. 1, with one end portion of the base broken away, and showing the lower driving and stabilizing shaft and gear mechanism connected with the motor and with the v wrtical shafts or spindles of the rotative contical section, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3

looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking downward Fig. 6 is a detail view in vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and Fi 7 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, showing the weighted clutch lever and adjusting screw which is also shown in Fig. 3.

In constructing a laundering machine having driving and stabilizing mechanism operatively connected with and adapted to form a connection between a centrifugal extractor and one or more washing devices, receptacles or units, in accordance with my invention, I provide a base or frame 1 comprising, by preference, a bottom frame 2 and an upper base or frame portion 3 which is connected with the bottom frame by means of upright frame members or legs 4. The bottom frame has transverse frame members 5, 6, 7, of which there may be any desired number connecting the'longitud'inal side frame members 8. D

A hollow upright frame portion or houslng 9 on the transverse frame members 6 forms a- 9 gear box having an oil-containing chamber 10, and the frame members 7 ,7 which are curved, form an annular base or bottom frame portion which encircles the said gear box and, together witlr bottom frame members 11, serves to support an electric motor 12, or other suitable source of power.

The frame 1 is also provided with one or more hollow upright frame portions or housings 13, 13 each forming a gear box and each having an oil-containing compartment 14. The gear boxes or housings 9 and 13 are thus all supported upon the same frame which is, by preference, portable and provided with supporting wheels 15.

'Mounted upon the frame 1 and directly over the central upright housing or gear box 9 is a centrifugal extractor 16 which is constructed, by preference, as follows:

A rotative extractor bowl or receptacle 17, formed, by preference of sheet metal and having a bottom 18 and perforated peripheral or side walls 19 is mounted upon and fixed to the upper extremity of a vertical rotative shaft or spindle20 which is rotatively mounted in and projects upward from the interior of the housing or gear box 9. The bowl or extractor reccptacle 17 has a central bottom sleeve or socket 21 which is provided with a tapered vertical axial opening or bore 22 into which the similarly tapered upper end portion of the shaft 20 extends. The bowl 17 is thus removably secured to the shaft on which it is supported and with which it is adapted to rotate at a speed suflicient to cause water contained in the clothes or material placed in the bowl to be extracted from the clothes or material and thrown or forced outward through the peripheral openings 23 by the action of centrifugal force or by the action of forces produced by or resulting from the rapid rotation of the bowl and its contents.

A stationary tub or receptacle 24 surrounds the rotative extractor bowl 17 and is provided with a discharge spout 25 for discharging liquid which is extracted from the clothes or material contained in the extractor bowl and I thrown or discharged from the interior of the bowl into said tub, for the purpose of drying the clothes and removing soap and other 'foreignsubstances therefrom.

The upright rotative shaft or spindle 20 is supported at or near its bottom extremity by suitable means adapted to permit the rotation of the shaft and bowl upon a vertical axis, and also adapted to permit the tilting or inclination of the shaft and the rotation of the same While its axis is slightly inclined, the extent of the inclination or tilting of the shaft from its normal or initial vertical position being permitted and also positively limited, and, b preference, yieldingly resisted during the rotation or rotation and oscillation of the shaft, by an upper or neck bearing. The upright shaft or spindle 20 is also so mounted and supported and so operatively connected with the driving mechanism and with the motor or source of power by means of which it is to be actuated or driven, as to permit said shaft to move longitudinally in opposite directions alternately, or upward and downward within predetermined limits during the rotation of the shaft under certain conditions and for periods of time which may vary, whereby certain desirable and important objects and advantages are accomplished, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

The uprightshaft or spindle 20 is support ed and operatively connected with suitable driving mechanism and with the motor or source of power, by preference, as follows:

A suitable bottom bearing is provided which in the form shown in the drawings comprises upper and lower annular bearing plates 25, 26 having annular grooves in their shoulder 29 of the shaft and said bearing plate 25. The depending or extreme bottom end of the shaft 20 is inserted in a vertical axial opening in a steel ball 31 which is rotatively supported in a bottom recess 32 in the bot tom of the oil-containing chamber 10 or gear box 9 in which said shaft 20 is mounted.

An upper neck bearing is fixed to the upper extremity of the gear box 9, and encircles the upright shaft 20 near the bottom of the centrifugal extractor bowl 17 and above the bottom bearing and gear box above described. The neck bearing 33 is in the form of a sleeve which is stationary and has an annular threaded cap 34 screwed thereon, said cap having an axial opening of such diameter as to permit lateral movement of the shaft 20. And a yielding sleeve 35 formed of resilient compressible.material, such as rubber, oncircles the shaft 20 on the inside of the stationary bearing member or sleeve 33; and a metallic bearing sleeve 36 encircles the sleeve. 35 and rotates with said resilient sleeve and said upright shaft.

The shaft 20 has an enlarged portion 37 which forms an upper annular peripheral shoulder 38 which is normally out of contact but adapted to move upward with the shaft into contact with an annular shoulder 39 on the inner face of the fixed outer bearing member 33. The shoulder 38 on the shaft being normally spaced apart from the shoulder 39, and the shaft being spaced apart from the inner wall of the gear box it will be readily seen that said shaft is permitted to move laterally while rotating and that such lateral movement is yieldingly resisted and limited by the upper or neck bearing. And the said shaft is movable longit-iu'linally or upward and downward between the upper annular shoulder 39 or upper end wall of the gearcontaining chamber or gear box and the top plate 25 of the bottom end-thrust bearing.

A helical gear wheel 40 loosely encircles the upright shaft 20 and has a depending hub portion 41 which normally rests upon and in frictional engagement with the top face of the top bearing plate 25 of the end-thrust bearing which thus supports both. the shaft 20 and said helical gear. The helical gear wheel 40 is provided with an upwardly extending outer or female conical clutch member 42 which is the lower one of a pair of clutch members located in the gear box 9 and encircling said shaft 20. The helical gear wheel 40 is in toothed engagement with a mating helical gear wheel 43 which is fixed to a horizontal driving shaft 44, said shaft '44 being mounted in suitable bearings and loosely connected with the armature shaft 45 by means of suitable coupling or clutch members 46 which are in toothed engagement with each other and connected with and adapted to form a connection between said shafts 44 and 45. The toothed and recessed portions of the clutch members 46 are so loosely connected as to provide lost motion between the said clutch members and between said shafts.

The shafts 44 and 45 are thus permitted to move longitudinally with respect to each other within predetermined limits, and also circumferentially, although they rotate together when the shaft 44 is being driven by the motor shaft 45 or motor.

An upper or male conical clutch member 47 is mounted on and adapted to rotate with the shaft 20, being connected with saidshaft by means of a spline 48 which enters anelongated slot in the said clutch member, so as to permit the latter to move longitudinally of and upward and downward with said shaft into and out of operative or clutching engagement with the clutch member 42 on the helical gear wheel 40 already described. The spline 48 is sufficiently loose in its slot to per mit a very limited lost motion between the parts connected thereby both lengthwise and circumferentially of the shaft. Suitable means for operating the clutch, or throwing the clutch member 47 into and out of clutching engagement with the clutch member 42 is provided: For example, a yoke 49 having its forked arms in engagement with an annular peripheral slot in the cluteh member 47 is rockingly mounted in suitable bearings in the walls of the gear box 9, or upon an axle or stud shaft 50 which is rotatively mounted in such bearings and provided with a crank arm or lever 51 fixed to said stub shaft and having an elongated slot through which extends an adjusting or clutch-operating screw 52 which is mounted in and in threaded engagement with a suitably threaded opening in a frame or socket portion 53 on the gear box. Said screw 52 extends loosely through a nonthreaded vertically elongated opening in the upwardly extending clutch-lever arm 51. (See Figs. 3, 5 and 7.) Said screw has a collar 54,011 the end which projects through theopening in the crank arm 51, and is pro vided with'an operating crank arm 55 which affords a convenient means for enabling the operator to turn the screw and thcrcbyeither operate the clutch by raisingand lowering the weightcd clutch lever arm 58 and thereby raising and permitting the lowering of the upper movable clutch member 47, to release or permit the engagement of the clutch, as desired, or to permit the collar 54- to be adjusted toward or away from the clutch lever arm 51. The collar 54 is thus adapted to leave the clutch-leverand its connected yoke 49 free to move with the clutch member 47 in either direction, or to be adjusted to a position in which said collar can act to limit the downward movement of the clutch lever arm 58 but permit said lever arm to move free in an member 42. The normal position of the collar 54, however, is out of engagement with the clutch lever arm 51, to leave the latter free to move in either direction with the clutch member 47.

An end thrust bearing 56 on the drive shaft 44 and between the helical gear wheel 43 and the wall of the gear box, serves to limit the movement of the shaft 44 and said gear wheel in one direction longitudinally of the shaft. And the construction of the helical gears 40 and 43 and their helical teeth is such that the rotation of the shaft 44 and gear wheel 43 will cause the side of said gear wheel which is in engagement with the helical gear wheel 40 to move downward when the machine is in operation with the upright shaft 20 operatively connected with the motor by means of the clutch mechanism above described. The rotation of the shaft 44 and helical gear whee143 -'thereon thus tends to press the helical gear wheel 40 downward against and in frictional engagement with the top face of the bearing plate 25 on which said'gear wheel 40 is supported and on which the upright shaft 20 is also supported in frictional engagement with said plate 25. The annular bearing plate 25 which supports both the shaft 20 and the helical gear whee 40 thus serves, with the depending hub'4'1 of the gear wheel 40 to operatively connect said gear wheel 40 and the driving shaft 44 with the. upright shaft 20 and extractor bowl, and to operatively connect the said bowl and the shaft 20 with the motor or source of power, not only when the clutch members 42 and 47 are in clutching engagement, but also when said clutch members are out of clutching engagement with each other.

The clutch members 42 and 47 thus serve as a means for operatively connecting the upright shaft and the extractor bowl with the driving mechanism including the helical gears 40 and 43 and shaft 44, and with the motor or source of power, for operating the extractor shaft and bowl at a high speed under normal conditions of operation; but the upright shaft 20 and extractor bowl thereon, are operatively connected with the driving mechanism and source of power by the frictional engagement of the bearing plate with the helical gear wheel 40 and vertical bowl-supporting shaft 20, for rotating said shaft and bowl at a relatively slow speed.

Not only is the safety of the operator and the prevention of injury to the machine from sudden and severe shocks obtained by the employment of the above described means for connecting and automatically releasing the upright shaft and driving means, but

the driving mechanism above described, and the means for connecting the vertical shaft which supports the extractor bowl with the driving mechanism and source of power and for automatically disconnecting the same, also enables the vertical shaft and extractor bowl or container to be operated at different speeds and the speed of rotation of said vertical shaft and bowl to be automatically changed from a high to a relatively low speed and without the use of any gears other than the one pair of helical gears or any clutch mechanism other than that already described.

In order to enable this to be accomplished it is only necessary to provide the mechanisn'i above described. I also provide, by preference, a weight 57 which is adjustably mounted upon an extension 58 of the clutchoperating lever 51 already described. The weight or weighted lever thus tends to hold the movable clutch member 47 in engagement with the clutch member 42, and is adapted ,to permit but yieldingly resist the raising or movement of said clutch memberv 47 out of engagement-with said clutch member 42 when the machine is in operation. In order to enable the operation of the connecting and releasing n'ieans or clutch mechanism, for connecting and releasing the clutch connection between the horizontal driving shaft 44 and the normally upright ,bodily movable driven shaft 20 of the ex-..

.iractor to be clearly understood, it should (ill -. shaft20 is adapted to permit and yielrlingly be noted that the compressible resilient cushioning member at the bottom end of that resist the longitudinal downward bodily movement of said shaft 20 and the extractor bowl or container 17 thereon, and that said tive or balanced position of said normally upright driven shaft, said shaft being bodily movable upward and tiltable,'to release the clutch. In case a garment or extra load is suddenly placed in or upon the extractor bowl or its supporting shaft, or in case of any sudden or unusual resistance tending to obstruct or retard the normal rotation of the bowl and its supporting shaft at a normal high speed, or tending to throw the bowl out of balance, the shaft and bowl will be tilted or inclined and caused to rotate upon an axis which is inclined with respect to the normal vertical axis of rotation thus causing the upper clutch member 47 to be tilted laterally or inclined and rotated about a correspondingly inclined axis.

The clutch member 47 and weighted clutchoperating lever arm are thus raised so as to loosenor release the frictional engagement between the clutch members 47 and 42, but the helical gear wheel and Vertical bowl-supporting shaft 20 remain operatively connected by the continuous frictional engagement between the bearing plate 25 and said gear wheel and shaft and the resilient compressible cushioning member 30 which is interposed be tween said plate 25 and the annular bottom shouldered portion 29 of the shaft 20 and in frictional engagement with the shaft and said plate 25 as already described, said frictional engagement being suflicient to cause the said gear wheel and shaft to rotate but permit slippage or lost motion between the gear and shaft. The clutch member 47 and weighted clutch-operating lever arm are thus adapted to be automatically raised intermittently and automatically lowered by force of gravity in rapidly altcrnatin g movements or vibrations, each upward movement acting to antomatically release the clutch and eachidownand movement acting to cause the clutch to engage, to be again released. Rapid vibrations or rapidly alternating movements of the movable clutch member 47 and its weighted clutch-operating lever arm, and the rapidly repeated automatic connecting and disconnecting of the clutch members 47 and 42, together with the continued frictional engagement between the bearing plate 25 and the helical gear wheel 40 and vertical bowl-supfit porting shaft 20, act to drive or rotate the vertical shaft and bowl at a relatively slow speed for any period or moment during which with the normal relatively high speed which is attained when the machine is in operation with the clutch members 47 and 42 in continuous clutching engagement.

A vibratory driving mechanism or rapidly alternating connecting and releasing and automatic speed-changing and driving means, or mechanism is thus obtained which is very efficient and economical in construction and operation.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the bearing plate in supporting frictional engagement with the rotative vertical bowl-supporting shaft 20 and relatively movable helical gear wheel which is normally loose on said shaft constitutes a simple and efficient means for operating the shaft and bowl at arelatively slow speed and for operatively connecting said shaft and bowl with the driving mechanism and source of power independently of the manually operable clutch mechanism or movable clutch member on said shaft, when the clutch mechan ism is released. The bowl is thus permitted to start slowly and gradually increase its speed and the load is picked up gradually and the clutch connected or disconnected either automatically or otherwise without causing any sudden shock or unduly abrupt change of speed, and all without overloading or burning out the motor or otherwise inj uring the machine, and with safety to the operator.

Means. is provided whereby the mechanism above described is adapted to be operatively connected with one or more wash tubs or washing devices of which there may be any desired number, and which washing devices may be of any desired ordinary and well known or suitable form adapted to be driven or operated by or in combination with the mechanism above described, and to coact with said mechanism and with each other in stabilizing and increasing the efficiency, working capacity and economy in operation of the apparatus or mechanism as a whole and of the washing mechanism and centrifugal extractor and driving or connecting and actuating mechanism respectively.

I provide one or more upright rotative driven shafts or spindles 59, one for each washing device or mechanism to be operatively connected with the main driving shaft or source of power. There may be any desired number of these upright shafts 59 and tiltable wash tubs or other similar devices to be connected therewith and operated thereby. Each upright shaft 59 is rotatively mounted in a suitable support, such, for example, as a gear box 13, and is operatively connected with the source of power, by preference, as

follows A gearwheel 60, which is by preference in i the form of a worm wheel, is mounted upon and in frictional engagement with and in automatically releasable relation to each up right shaft 59 respectively. And in toothed engagement with each worm wheel 60 is a mating worm 61 which is connected with the driving mechanism or source of power. One of said worms 61 is directly connected to and adapted to rotate with the main driving shaft 44 on which the helical gear wheel 43 is mounted; and the other one or more of said worms 6] are each connected with the motor or source of-power by means of a shaft 62, said shaft 62 being connected with the motor by means of a coupling member 63 fixed to the shaft 62, a similar annular toothed or shouldered collar or coupling member 64 being fixed to the armature shaft 45, and an intermediate movable shouldered coupling member or collar 65 being mounted between and in loosely fitting shouldered or toothed engagement with said coupling members 63 and 64. The said coupling members are loosely connected and adapted to permit some play or lost motion of the shafts 62 and 45 relatively to each other both longitudinally and circun'iferent-ially.

Each upright shaft 59 is, by preference, made in a plurality of telescoping sections, the lower section being rotatively supported upon a bottom end-thrust ball bearing comprising an upper annular bearing plate 66, a bottom annular bearing plate 67 and a series of hardened steel balls 68 mounted between the opposed annularly grooved faces of said plates, said upper bearing plate 66 being in frictional supporting engagement with an annular plate or collar 69 fixed to the bottom section of the upright shaft 59 by means of a securing pin 70 or similar securing means, and said collar 69 being interposed between the bearing and the face of the depending hub portion 71 of the worm wheel 60 which loosely encircles said shaft 59. The shaft 59 and Worm wheel 60 are thus both supported upon or by means of the upper plate 66 of the end thrust bearing which is seated in the bottom of the central bore or oilcontaining chamber 14 of the gear box 13. The upright shaft 59 and worm wheel 60 are thus normally in releasable relation to each other, and are adapted to be driven at the same or different speeds of rotation, the worm wheel being supported upon and in frictional engagement with the rotative plate or collar 69 fixed to i the shaft 59, and said collar 69 being supported upon and in frictional engagement with. the top surface of the bearing plate 66 which loosely encircles the bottom of the shaft 59 and is adapted to rotate with respect to said shaft and worm wheel, but acts to form a frictional connection between said shaft and worm wheel. The lower section of the upright shaft 59 is provided with a notched or recessed clutch member 71' fixed to or formed integrally with the upper extremity of said shaft; and the upper telescoping section 72, which has a bottom end portion 73 loosely mounted in and in normally rotative relation to and in frictional engagement with an axial opening or socket 74 in the bottom section of the shaft 59, is provided with a movable shouldered clutch member 75 mounted on and movable longitudinally of said upper section 72 of the shaft 59 and movable into and out of clutching engagement with the clutch member 71 on the bottom section of said shaft 59. A securing collar 76 is fixed to the upper section 7 2 of the shaft 59 and adapted to engage the bottom face of a cap 77 on the gear box 13, so as to retain the upper section 72 of the shaft 59 in operative position in engagement with and in normally rotative relation to the bottom section of said shaft. The upper shaft section 72 is thus prevented from being lifted up or pulled upward out of its proper position by the strains to which it is subjected in use.

An annular compression spring 7 8 surrounds the lower section of the upright shaft 59 and engages the upper face'of the worm gear Wheel and a spring or tension-regulating nut 79 is mounted in threaded engagement with a screw-threaded portion 80 of the bottom section of the shaft 59, and is adapted to increase or decrease the tension of said spring when the nut is turned. The frictional resistance or degree of pressure between the frictionally engaged surfaces of the worm wheel 60, and annular supporting plate or collar 69, and the resulting frictional connection between the gear wheel 60 and upright shaft 59, may thus be increased or decreased or regulated and controlled as desired, by the turning of said nut.

Means is provided for operating or raising and lowering the movable shouldered clutch member 75 into and out of clutching engagement with the notched clutch member 71.

For this purpose a yoke 81 having forked arms having pins 82 extending into and in slidable engagement with an annular peripheral groove 83 in the movable clutch member is rockingly supported by means of a stub shaft 84 which is mounted in suitable bearings in the gear box 13 and a clutch operating and releasing arm 85 is fixed to the stub shaft.

Each washing device which is to be operatively connected with or operated by means of a corresponding upright shaft 59 is provided with a washing tub, liquid-container or receptacle 86, which in the form shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a bottom 87, side walls 88, and a cover 89 adapted to be removably secured. in position to cover the container or tub by means of hinged latches 90 on the 'tub body and securing screws 91 on and in threaded engagement with said latches and adapted to engage the adjacent margin of the cover, or by other socuring means. The container is provided with means for operatively connecting it with the upper extremity orsection 7 2 of the upright shaft 59. And in the form of the device-shown in the drawings, means is provided which co-acts with the rotative upright shaft 59 to cause the tub or container to tilt or rock sidewise in opposite directions or on opposite sides of a horizontal axis alternately, simultaneously with the rotation of the tub and the vertical shaft 59 with which the tub is tiltably connected.

For example, the tub or container 86 is provided with a centrally disposed depending lug or boss, or hinge member 92 which is fixed to the bottom of the tub by suitable securing means, such, for example, as a bracket 9;") which may have radial arms, and is secured to or may form an integral part of the bottom of the'tub. The upright rotative upper extremity or section 7 2 of the vertical shaft 59 is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting end portions or end hinge members 93' which are parallel and spaced apart and adapted to admit the depending hinge member 92 therebetween; an a horizontal hinge pin or pivot 94 extends transversely through suitable openings in said hinge members 92 and 93, and forms a horizontal axis and pivotal connection or hinged connection between said hinge members and thereby between the tub and said vertical shaft.

An annular wave-like or sinuous track 96 having an undulating surface, and which track is, by preference, stationary, encircles the upper portion or section 7 2 of each vertical di'iven shaft 59 respectively.

A central normally horizontal transverse bar member 99, having anti-friction rollers 100 rotativcly mounted thereon in position to engage the undulating track surface on opposite sides of the axis of rotation, is fixed to and adapted to tilt with the bottom of each tub or container 86, respectively.

Each annular wave-liketrack is thus adapted to co-act with a corresponding upright shaft 59 and tub or container 86, to

cause the tub or container and its contents such, for example, as clothes or other materials to be washed, and water and soap for washing the sameto be tilted or rocked laterally or from side to side upon a horizontal axis formed by the .transverse horizontal hinge pin or pivot 94, simultaneously with the rotation of the tub or container.

The clothes or materials to be washed and the liquid contents of the tub are thus stirred and thrown out-ward in various directions toward and against the walls of the container, thus causing the clothes to be squeezed and pounded and subjected to rapidly changing degrees of pressure, and causing the water to be forced through the clothes and agitated and churned into "rapidly moving currents and cross-currents by the action of centrifugal force and by the rotation and rapidly changing rocking or tilting movements of the container, in the operation of Washing.

In operation, the centrifugal extractor is caused to rotate at a relatively slow speed as the motor is started and before the clutch for connecting the bowl-supporting vertical shaft of the said extractor is thrown into engagement. The initial rotative movement of the extractor bowl and its vertical shaft or spindle is thus caused by the frie tional connection betw een the rotative hearing plate and the helical gear wheel and said vertical shaft 20. The rotative tiltable washing tub or container having been first loaded with clothes or materials to be Washed and with soapand water in sufficient quantity for washing the same, is likewise given a slow initial movement which is caused by the frictional connection between the upper section 72 of the upright shaft 59 and the lower section of said shaft, and by the frictional engagement or connection between the lower section of said shaft and its collar 69 with the bearing plate 66 and the bottom face of the depending hub of the Worm wheel 60 which is supported by said plates 66 and ()9 and in toothed engagement with the worm 61 on the driving shaft 44 or 62 as the case may be, said shaft 44 being connected with the helical gear wheel 43, and thereby with the helical gear wheel 40 loose on shaft 20, and with the motor or source of power.

The vertical shaft of the washing device, and the vertical shaft or spindle of the centrifugal extractor thus being set in motion, gradually increase their speed of rotation, so that the load is picked up gradually without danger of overloading the motor, or otherwise injuring the machine. The clutch member may then be thrown into clutching engagement with the clutch member 71, thus positively connecting the upper section with the lower section of the shaft 59. The fric-' tional connection between the worm wheel 60,

supporting bearing plate 66, and gear and shaft supporting collar 69 fixed to the vertical shaft 59, which frictional connection can be regulated by changing the tension of the spring 78, will cause the shaft 59 and the washing tuber container with its load to rotate, but will permit sufficient lost motion or slippage to prevent a too sudden change of speed of rotation of the tub, or a too sudden change of the load upon the motor or driving mechanism. And it will be readily understood and appreciated that the clutch mechanism for connecting the vertical shaft of the. centrifugal extractor with the helical gear Wheel 40 and with the driving mechanism or source of power, maybe thrown into and supporting and its connecting and out of engagement either while the clutch mechanism for connecting the washing tub and its vertical shaft with the driving mecha-- nism is in clutch-engaging position or in releasing position, as desired. And the clutch member 75 of the washing device maybe thrown intopr out of clutching engagement with theclutch member 71,,either while the clutch mechanism forconnectingand releas, ing the vertical shaft of the centrifugal extractor is in clutching engagement .or in clutch-releasing"'pos't desired. The centrifugal extracto bowl-.zand as connections and driving} chanisin "thus'act as a stabilizingjmeans for stabilizing and regu lating or governing?thejoperation of the washing device,--driying mechanism and motor; and the rotativ' jwashft'ub or, container driving necl'ianisi'n c0-act with the rapitll irotati-ng balanced centrifugal extractorifbov'vl to stabilize and minimize the vibration of the same, both when the respective clutches are engaged and when they are disengaged orreleased.

The helical gears of the centrifugal ex-' tractor, and theclutch mechanismand friction connections, including the reciprocating weighted automatically actuated clutching and releasinghnechanism or intern'iittcnt con necting and releasing clutch and friction mechanism between the helical gear wheel 40 and the vertical shaft 20 of the extractor, constitute a driving and automatic speedchanging mechanism which is adapted to provide three'distinct speeds or drives, one of which is variable, and which enables the bowl to be well balanced and run at a normal high speed when in balance, and acts to automatically change the speed and minimize and tendto prevent shocks or injury to the ma.- chine or the operator when an extra load is suddenly thrown into the bowl or when anything occurs which tends to retard or throw the bowl out of balance. This intermediate or variable speed is obtained when the movable clutch member 47 and its weighted clutch-controlling lever arm are reciprocating so as to automatically connect and release the clutch connection between the helical gear wheel 40 and said shaft 20, by the rapid reciprocating or vibrating movements of said clutch member 47 and its weighted lever arm upward and downward longitudinally of said shaft 20 alternately into and out of clutching engagement with the mating clutch member on said helical gear wheel,

tory drive or riving means which causes the bowl to be intermittently connected with and disconnected from the driving shaft and source of power with such rapidity-so far as.

the clutch member 47 and its mating clutch member are concerned-as to cause the bowl to be rotated at a suitable speed even when til not positively connected with the main driving shaft or with the source of power. By adjusting the weight to a predetermined position longitudinally of said weighted arm, the driving mechanism may be caused to drive the centrifugal extractor bowl at a predetermined speed while carrying a corresponding predetermined load and with the expenditure of a given amount of power which may also be predetermined; And the weight may be adjusted to different positions successively for controlling or determining the speed of rotation of the bowl.

The centrifugal extractor bowl being normally rotated at a high speed and well balanced, and being provided with automatic speed changing driving and releasing mechanism as above described, it will be readily understood that the extractor bowl is thus adapted to stabilize and minimize the vibrations ofthe machine as a whole and that the rotative washing receptacle or tub and the centrifugal extractor bowl, being operatively connected as above described, act mutually upon each other as a stabilizing means, so that the washing tub may be stopped and clothes removedtherefrom and placed in the extractor and the extractor set in motion so as to operate upon and remove the water and soap from the clothes therein while the washing receptacle or tub is being refilled. And the momentum of the extractor will co-act with the main d riving shaft or driving mechanism in starting the rotation of the wash tub and its contents at a slow initial but gradually increasing speed and without overloading the motor.

The amount of power required to perform a given amount of work is thus reduced to a minimum, and the balanced rotative extractor is adapted to act as a governor or stabilizing device having a variable automatically changeable speed.

It should be noted the shaft 59 being in two sections which are adapted to be connected and released by the clutch mechanism, so that when released the sections of the shaft are in frictional engagement but the upper section is capable of being rotated with the container or tub 86, the operator is thus enabled to turn the tub from any inclined position in which it may happen to stop to upright position for removing the clothes or material operated upon and for refilling the tub.

I claim:

1. In a laundering machine the combination of a driving shaft, a rotative centrifugal extractor container, a driven shaft adapted to be connected with said rotative container, and connecting means for operatively connecting said shafts, said elements including means adapted to beautomatically operated by the container and said driven shaft and acting to permit said container and driven shaft to rotate at a speed which is antomatic'ally changeable relatively to the speed of rotation of said driving shaft.

2. In a laundering machine the combination of a driving shaft, a rotative centrifugal extractor container, a driven shaft adapted to be connected and rotate with said container, and connecting means for operatively connecting said shafts, said connecting means including means adapted to be automatically operated by the bodily movement of said container and said driven shaft and acting to cause said container and said driven shaft to rotate at a speed which is automatically changeable relatively to the speed of rotation of the driving shaft.

3. In a laundering machine the combination of a driving shaft, a rotative centrifugal extractor container, a rotative normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with said container, and connecting means for operatively connecting said shafts, said connecting means including connected gear wheels one of which is'connected and adapted to rotate with the driving shaft, and the other of which is loosely mounted upon said upright driven shaft, a clutch member on said last-mentioned gear wheel, and a mating clutch member rotative with said upright shaft and adapted to releasably engage said first-mentioned clutch member, said elements including means actuated by said driven shaft and acting to permit the speed of rotation of the driven shaft and container to change automatically relatively to the speed of rotation of the driving shaft.

4. In a laundering machine the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a bodily movable rotative driven shaft adapted to be connected with a device to be operated, and connecting and releasing means comprising gear and clutch mechanism associated with and adapted to form a connection between said shafts, said clutch mechanism comprising mating clutch members one of which is connected with said gear mechanism, and means for operatively connecting the other one of said mating clutch members with said driven shaft, said elements including means associated with and adapted to be automatically operated by the bodily movement of said driven shaft, for automatically connecting and releasing the clutch connection between said clutch members.

5. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a bodily movable rotative normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a device to be operated, connecting and releasing means associated with and adapted to form a connection between said shafts, and means for supporting said shafts in operative position, said supporting means including means for permitting the rotation and bodily movement of said driven shaft, and said connecting means including means adapted to be automatically operated by the bodily movement of said rotative driven shaft andacting to releasably connect and permit the automatic releasing of said connection between said shafts.

6. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative bodily movable upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a device to be operated, gear and clutch mechanism for operatively connecting said shafts, said clutch mechanism comprising a clutch member connected and adapted to rotate with said gear mechanism and a reciprocating clutch member in operaative engagement with and adapted to be operated by the bodily movement of said upright driven shaft, for alternately connecting and permitting the interruption of the clutch connection between said clutch members.

7. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative bodily movable upright drix en shaft adapted to be connected with a container to be operated, gear and clutch mechanism associated with and adapted to form an operative connection between said shafts, said gear mechanism comprising connected gears one of which is connected with the driving shaft and the other of which is loosely mounted with respect to said upright driven shaft, a

clutch member on said last-mentioned gear wheel, and a movable mating clutch member in operative engagement with and adapted to be automatically operated by the bodily movement of said upright driven shaft, for connecting and releasing the clutch connection between said clutch members, and supporting means in engagement with and adapted to rotatively support and permit and limit the bodily movement of said upright driven shaft. p

8. In a laundering machine the combination of a horizontal driving shaft, a rotative centrifugal extractor bowl, a rotative bodily -movable upright driven shaft connected with.

said extractor bowl, means for supporting said shafts in operative position, said snpporting means including means associated with and adapted to permit a limited bodily movement bf said bodily movable upright driven shaft and extractor bowl, and connecting and releasing means for operatively connecting said shafts, said elements including means associated with and adopted to be operated by the bodily movements of said bodily movable upright driven shaft and extractor bowl, for permitting and automatically releasing the normal connection between said bodily movable upright shaft and said drivingshaft.

9. In a laundering machine, the combination of arotative driving shaft, a bodily movable rotative normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a container to be rotated thereby, connecting and releasing means comprising gear and clutch mechanism associated with said shafts, for forming a connection between the same, said clutch mechanism comprising mating clutch members one of which is connected with said gear mechanism, means for operatively connecting the other one of said mating clutch members with said driven shaft, means for supporting said upright shaft in normally upright operative position, said supporting means including means associated with and adapted to' permit the bodily movement of said normally upright driven shaft and said last-mentioned shaft-engaging clutch mem ber with respect to the other one of said mating clutch members, and Weighted means associated with and adapted to tend to hold the upper clutch member in releasable engagement with the lower clutch member.

10., In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative horizontal driving shaft, a rotative bodily movable normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a container to be rotated thereby, connecting means associated with said shafts, for operatively connecting the same, said connecting means comprising connected gear wheels one of which is connected and rotative with the driving shaft, and the other of which is loosely mounted with respect to the said driven shaft, a clutch member on said last-mentioned gear wheel, an upper mating clutch member movable into and out of frictional clutching engagement with said first-mentioned clutch member, means for operatively connecting said movable clutch member with said upright driven shaft, said connecting means including means adapted to permit said movable clutch member to move longitudinally of and to rotate with said upright driven shaft, means for supporting said upright shaft in normally upright operative position, said supporting means including means for permitting the bodily movement of said normally upright shaft. and said upper movable clutch member upward and downward-with respect to the other one of said mating clutch members, and said elements including means associated with and adapted to be automatically operated by the bodily movements of said normally upright driven shaft, for automatically alternately connecting and interrupting the frictional clutching connection betwen saidamating clutch members.

11. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative horizontal driving shaft, a rotative upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a device to be operated thereby, gear mechanism comprising connected gear wheels one of which is connected with. the driving shaft and the other of which is loosely mounted on the driven shaft a clutch member on said last-mentioned gear wheel and loosely encircling the driven shaft, an

upper mating clutch member loosely connected and movable with and longitudinally-of the upright shaft into and out'of clutching en-l with and adapted to tend to releasably holdsaid upper clutch member in automatically releasable frictional clutching engagement with said first-mentioned clutch member.

12. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a device to be operated, gear and clutch mechanism associated with said shafts, for operatively connecting the same, said clutch mechanism comprising a lower clutch member connected and adapted to rotate with said gear mechanism, and an upper movable clutch member associated with the upright shaft and movable upward and downward into and out of clutching engagement with said lower clutch member, means for operatively connecting said upper clutch member with said upright sbaft,and means for supporting said shafts in operative position, said shaft-supporting means including means associated withthe upright shaft and adapted to permit the bodily movement ofsaid shaft with said upper clutch member and with respect to said first-mentioned clutch member, to connect and release the clutch connection between said clutch members.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative drivin shaft, a

- rotative upright driven shaft, a container mounted on and rotative with said upright shaft, clutch and gear mechanism operatively connected with and adapted to form an operative connection between said shafts, a gear box in which said gear mechanism and the lower extremity of said upright shaft are contained, an upper neck bearing in engagement with and adapted to permit and yieldingly resist and limit the movement of said upright shaft transversely with respect to its normally vertical position and axis of rotation, to effect the automatic balancing of said upright shaft and container and permit unobstructed gyrostatic movement of the same, a bottom bearing in supporting engagement with said upright shaft, and a bearing 1nember located below said shaft-supporting bottom bearing in rotative engagement with the bottom of the gear box and having an axial opening into which said upright shaft extends.

14. In a machine of the'class described, the combination of a rotative normally upright bodily movable container, drivingmechanism for rotating said container, means for supporting said driving mechanism, said ele ments including means adapted to rotatively support and permit the bodily movement of the container, and means for operatively connecting said container and driving mechanism, said elements including means associated with and adapted to be operated by the bodily movement of said-container relatively to its normally upright position, for permitting and automatically interrupting the normal operative connection between said container and said driving mechanism.

15. In a machine of the class described. the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative upright driven shaft, a container mounted on and rotative with said upright shaft, a bottom bearing in supporting engagement with said upright shaft, an upper yielding neck bearing comprising a stationary annular bearing member surrounding said shaft and provided with an annular space between said shaft and stationary bearing member, a yielding flexible bearing member interposed between said stationary bearing member and said shaft and adapted to permit and yieldingly resist and limit the movement of said shaft toward and from tilted inclined position with respect to the normally vertical position of said shaft, to permit the balancing of said shaft and container and the substantially unobstructed gyrostatic movement of the same, and means for operatively connecting said upright shaft with the driving shaft said connecting means including means adapted to automatically release the normal connection between said shafts concurrently with the tilting of said container and said driven shaft.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative upright driven shaft, a container mounted on and rotative with said upright shaft, a bottom bearing in supporting engagement with the bottom end of said shaft, an upper neck bearing comprisinga stationary annular bearing member surrounding and spaced apart from said shaft, a flexible bearing member formed of resilient material interposed between said stationary bearing member and said shaft and in engagement with said shaft, and an annular metallic bearing sleeve in engagement with said flexible bearing member and adapted to permit and yieldingly resist and limit the movement of said shaft both vertically endwise of the shaft, and transversely with respect to the normally vertical position of said shaft and its axis of rotation, to effect the balancing of said shaft and container and permit the substantially unobstruced gyrostatic movement of the same, and means for operatively con- Ill) necting said upright driven shaft with the driving shaft.

17. In a machine of the class described havmg a rotative container, the combination of driving mechanism comprising a horizontal driving shaft, a normally upright driven shaft adapted to rotatively support said container, means for supporting said shafts, said supportin means comprising bearings associated witli and adapted to rotatively support and permit the bodily movement of said driven shaft upward from and downward to its normal upright operative position, and connecting and releasing means comprising connected gear Wheels one of which is connected and rotative with said driving shaft, and the other one of which is loosely mounted with respect to and adapted to encircle and permit the free bodily movement of said driven shaft upward from and downward to its normal operative position, a clutch memher connected and adapted to'rotate with said last-mentioned gear wheel, a movable upper mating clutch member loosely connected and adapted to rotate with said driven shaft, and means associated with said upper movable clutch member and adapted to hold the same in automatically releasable clutching engagement with said other mating clutch member, said elements including means adapted to enable the clutch connection between sa1d clutch members to be intermittently interrupted by the bodily morement of said driven shaft and the clutch member engaged thereby.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative bodily movable normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with. a device to be operated, a container attached to and rotative with said driven shaft and shaft-connecting and releasing means including means associated with and adapted to be operated by the bodily movement of said driven shaft, for automatically releasing the normal connection between said shafts.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a device to be rotated thereby, means for supporting said shafts in operative position, said supporting means including means associated with the upright shaft and adapted to permit a limited bodily movement of the same with respect to its normal upright operative position, and connecting and releasing means for operatively connecting said shafts. said elements including means associated with and adapted to be operated by the bodily movement of said uprlght shaft,

for connecting and automatically releasing the normal connection between said shafts.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a container to be supported and operated thereby, means for supporting said shafts in operative position, said supporting means including means associated with the upright shaft and adapted to permit and limit the movement of the same toward and from its normal upright operative position, and connecting means for operatively connecting said shafts, said connecting means includin means associated with said upright shaft and adapted to be automatically operated by the same, for alternately connecting and interrupting the normal operative connection between said shafts.

21. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a container to be supported and rotated thereby, means for supporting said shafts, said supporting means including means associated with the upright shaft and adapted to permit and limit the tilting of the same, and connecting and releasing means for operatively connecting said shafts, said connecting and releasing means including means in engagement with and adapted to be operated by the "tilting of said upright shaft with respect to its normally upright operative position, for automatically releasing the normal operative connection between said shafts. v

22. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative normally-upright driven shaft adapted for attachment to a container to be supported and operated thereby, means for supporting said shafts, saidsupporting means including means associated with and adapted to permitand limit the movement of the driven shaft laterally to tilted inclined position, and connecting and releasing means for operatively connecting said shafts, said connecting and releasing means including means in engagement with said normally upright shaft and movable with and adapted to be operated by the lateral movement of said tiltable shaft,

for alternately connecting and interrupting the normal operative connection between said shafts, to permit the speed of rotation of the normally upright tiltable shaft to vary with respect to the speed of rotation of the driving shaft.

23. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative horizontal driving shaft, a rotative normally upright driven shaft adapted to support a device to be rotated thereby, means for supporting said shafts, said supporting means including means associated with and adapted to permit and limit the tilting of the normally upright shaft laterally toward and from itsnormally upright operative position, and connecting and releasing means comprising gear and clutch mechanism for forming an operative connection between sa1d shafts, sa1d clutch mechanism comprismg mating clutch members one of which is connected with said gear mecha be connected in supporting engagement with a container to be rotated thereby, gear and clutch mechanism for operatively connecting said shafts, said clutch mechanism comprising a lower clutch member connected and adapted to rotate with said gear mechanism and an upper movable mating clutch member on said upright shaft and adapted to releasabiy engage said lower clutch member, means for connecting said upper clutch meniber with said upright shaft, said connecting means being adapted to permit a limited movement of said upper clutch member upward and downward longitudinally of said shaft, said elements including means for enabling said upper clutch member to be 0perated by the bodily movement of said upright shaft, and a weighted lever operatively connected with and adapted to tend to hold said upper clutch member in releasable clutching engagement with said lower clutch member.

25. In a laundering machine, the combination of a rotative driving shaft, a rotative normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with a container to be supported and operated thereby, gear and clutch mechanism for operatively connecting said shafts, said clutch mechanism comprising a lower clutch member connected with the gear mechanism,- and an upper movable mating clutch member on said upright shaft and adapted to releasably engage said lower clutch member, means for supporting said shafts, said supporting means including means for permitting the bodily movement of said upright shaft with respect to its normal upright operative position, means for connecting said upper clutch member with said upright shaft, said connecting means including means for enabling said upper clutch member to be operated by the bodily movement of said upright shaft, and a weighted lever in engagement with said upper clutch member, for holding the same in releasable engagement with the lower clutch member.

26. In a machine of the class described. the combination of a rotative'normally upright tiltable container, driving mechanism for rotating said container, means for supporting said driving mechanism, said supporting means and driving mechanism comprising means adapted to rotatively support and,

permit the tilting of the container transversely with respect to its normal upright opera tive position, and connecting means associated with said container and said driving mechanism, for forming an operative connection between the same, said elements including means associated with and adapted to be operated by the transverse movement of the container with respect to its normally upright operative position, for permitting and automatically releasing the normal operative connection between said container and said driving mechanism.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative normally upright bodily movable container, a bodily movable rotative normally upright driven shaft connected and adapted to move with said container, a rotative driving shaft, means for supporting said shafts in operative position, said supporting means including means for permitting the rotation and bodily movement of said container and driven shaft? connecting and releasing means comprising gear and clutch mechanism associated with and adapted to form a connection between said shafts, said clutch mechanism comprising mating ,clutch members one of which is connected with said gear mechanism and the other one of which is connected and adapted to rotate with said driven shaft, and including means adapted to. be automatically operated by the bodily movement of said driven shaft and container, forpermitting and automatically releasing the normal connection between said clutch members, and means for operatively connecting said gear mechanism and shafts independently of said clutch connection.

28. In a laundering machine the combination of a driving shaft, a rotative centrifugal extractor container member, a rotative normally upright driven shaft adapted to be connected with said centrifugal extractor container member, means for rotatively supporting said shafts, said supporting means comprising means associated with and adapted to permit the rotation and bodily movement of said centrifugalextractor container mem-. her and the driven shaft connected therewith, and connecting and releasing means comprising gear and clutch mechanism associated with and adapted to form an operative connection between said driving shaft and said last-mentioned driven shaft, said connecting and releasing means including means adapted to be automatically actuated by the bodily movement of said last-mentioned driven shaft, for permitting and automatically releasing the normal operative connection between said driven shaft and said driving shaft.

29. In amachine of the class described,

- the combination of a rotative container,-driving mechanism for rotating said container, said drivlng mechanism comprlsing a rotative driving shaft and a bodily movable normally upright driven shaft connected and tion, said supporting means being adapted to permit the rotation and bodily movement of said container and said normally upright driven shaft, and connecting and releasing means comprising gear and clutch mechanism, for operatively connecting said shafts, said gear mechanism comprising connected gear wheels one of which is on and rotative with said driving shaft and the other one of which loosely encircles said normally upright driven shaft, said clutch mechanism comprising a lower clutchmember connected with said last-mentioned gear wheel, an upper reciprocating clutch member operatively connected and adapted to rotate with said driven shaft, and means for holding said reciprocating'clutch member in automatically relcasable clutching engagement with said lower clutch member, said reciprocating clutch member being adapted to be automatically released from normal clutching engagement with said lower clutch member by the bodily movement of the driven shaft and said container.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 22nd day of Sep tember, 1925.

CHARLES C. LAMB. 

